Alabama Rot is a condition affecting dogs which has been seen for many years in the USA, with a few reported cases in the UK since 2012. The condition causes skin lesions and, in some dogs, kidney failure. Currently the cause of the condition is unknown.

Alabama Rot, named after the location it was first seen, is correctly called cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV). This means it is a disease of small blood vessels in the skin and kidneys. In CRGV, tiny blood clots form which block blood vessels causing damage to tissues.

The signs to look out for

The primary clinical sign is one or more skin lesions. Most commonly found on the lower limbs, lesions are occasionally seen on the body, face or mouth. Lesions may be swollen, red or ulcerated and can look like any other bite or cut. It can be very difficult to tell if a skin lesion is truly an early sign of CRGV as there is no test for it; however some dogs will only ever have skin lesions and will recover quickly.

A number of dogs affected by Alabama Rot will go on to experience damage to the kidneys (known as acute kidney injury). This typically occurs within a few days of the skin lesions developing.  Dogs with kidney injury may show signs such as:

Lethargy.

Weakness.

Not eating.

Sickness.

Blood tests can confirm damage to the kidneys, which often leads to rapid kidney failure. Treatment can be attempted, such as intra-venous fluid therapy and supportive care, but severe kidney damage is often fatal as the damaged tissue can’t be repaired.

CRGV can affect dogs of any age, size or breed. Cases are still rare, though those reported seem to be mostly in the winter and spring months, with fewer confirmed or suspected cases through the summer. More cases have been reported in the south of England, especially around the New Forest.

What causes Alabama Rot

Currently the cause is unknown, although research is being done. Alabama Rot in America is thought to be caused by a toxin produced by E. coli bacteria; however UK vets have been unable to prove this theory. There is a suggestion that the disease could be contracted from muddy woodland.  This hasn’t been proven, but it’s advisable to wash woodland mud off your dog’s legs and feet after each walk.

Although it is a very serious condition, Alabama rot remains an extremely rare disease, with less than 60 cases being confirmed between 2012 and 2015. If you have any concerns about your dog’s health, please consult your local vet.

Dogs and cats can develop dental problems at any age and many over six years of age have some degree of dental disease.

Dental disease can be put into three categories:

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums. You can easily see this by the increase in the pinkness of your dog’s gums, especially at the gum line.

Tartar

Tartar is the accumulation of plaque on the teeth, usually starting at the gum line in conjunction with gingivitis.

Pyorrhoea

Pyorrhoea is the most serious – it is pus in the mouth, usually between the teeth and the gums. Not only does it cause decay and bad breath but the bacteria may enter the blood and travel to other parts of the body causing more serious problems. The liver, kidney and heart are commonly affected. We treat these conditions because they are actual infections.

Why should I brush my dog’s teeth?

Daily removal of plaque is the key to healthy teeth. Unless your dog’s teeth are brushed daily, plaque and eventually tartar will build up at the gum line. Infection then occurs, which loosens and destroys the attachment of the tooth.

Brushing your dog’s teeth can be an easy and fun procedure (in some pets). It is easier to start from puppies as they will get used to it very easily. You need a very soft bristled brush (like a child’s or baby’s toothbrush) and pet toothpaste, which is usually meat flavoured. Do not use human toothpaste as it can be irritating if swallowed and usually pets don’t like that minty freshness much.

In dogs that will not allow tooth brushing, the next best thing is a dental diet this will help control plaque build-up.

There are many dental chews available and these do help, but be aware that on their own they are sometimes not enough to prevent dental disease.

Why does my pet need a scale and polish under anaesthetic?

Once visible tartar has formed on the gum line, this means that there is disease under the gum as well. This needs to be specially removed. It is time for a professional cleaning – do not wait.

Anaesthesia is necessary when performing teeth cleaning. It enables us to clean beneath the gum line, gives pain control, and we place a tube into the windpipe, to ensure that bacteria do not get into the lungs.

Feeding your puppy

It is very difficult to choose the right diet for your puppy or dog when there is such a huge variety of foods on the market. You have to remember that the needs of your dog will change throughout its life and different species and breeds may require different diets.

On collecting your new puppy, you will usually be informed of the diet the animal has received. Sometimes these diets can be very strange concoctions and not at all balanced in minerals and vitamins. The best option is to use a puppy food that has been properly formulated and has a feeding guide to enable you to supply the correct amount of calories.

Puppies grow and develop fast in a short space of time, so it is important that they are fed a diet that is correctly formulated for their needs. Manufactured puppy foods are formulated to provide nutrition without the bulk. Puppy formulas have good levels of high quality protein to support healthy tissue and organ development, higher levels of essential minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and iron, as well as vitamin D to help build strong bones and teeth.

You should feed your puppy small amounts to begin with as puppies have small stomachs but large appetites. Up to four months of age a puppy should be fed four meals a day, reducing to three meals a day until six months of age and thereafter two meals a day can be fed. Overfeeding you puppy will cause digestive upset and could lead to painful bone problems in the future – plus, overweight puppies turn into overweight dogs.

It is important not to feed your puppy immediately before or after exercise. Resting after feeding and also soaking dried food before feeding, helps to prevent the risk of swelling or twisting of the stomach. Puppies are also best fed in a quiet place away from interruptions. As puppies grow bigger their appetites increase. After six months the rate of growth will slow and food intake needs to be reduced.

Feeding your adult dog

Once your dog reaches maturity (from nine months in small dogs but 12-18 months in larger breed dogs) you need to settle into a regular feeding routine and change to a maintenance diet. Any diet change should be done gradually over one week to avoid stomach upsets.

Your dog’s diet needs to contain the correct balance of nutrients and any good quality manufactured complete food will provide your dog with all the basic nutrients. Canned or dried or a mixture of the two may be fed. There is also a wide range of commercial diets available to match the needs of specific breeds of dogs.

Food should be fed at room temperature and do not feed your dog immediately before or after exercise.

Feeding your senior dog

Senior diets can be introduced from five years of age in larger breed dogs and seven years in smaller breed dogs. Senior dogs are less active and have a slower metabolism so fewer calories and fat are required.

Specially formulated senior dog food is available and it is advisable to move older dogs onto this food. Manufactured senior dog foods are carefully formulated to reflect the changes that occur as a dog gets older.

The frequency of meals for the older dog can still be one to two meals daily but sometimes they may prefer smaller portions more frequently. It is important not to over feed older dogs as they may put on weight which will lead to increased stress on their joints and worsen any existing arthritis.

Do you know that just 5% of fleas live as adults on pets?

The other 95% of flea population lives in the home. Adult fleas lay their eggs on the dog within a few days of their first blood meal. These eggs are non-sticky and will drop off onto surrounding carpets and bedding waiting to hatch. From here, the eggs will hatch to produce larvae that feed on flea faeces and organic matter found in the environment. The larvae dislike light and will tend to live deep in the carpets and in soil.

An adult flea will lay up to 50 eggs per day, about 2,000 in her lifetime. The adults come out of their cocoons when they detect a host is nearby. Once they hop onto a host, the adults mate and begin the life-cycle all over again. The newly emerged flea may bite humans before jumping off to find a more suitable host. The entire life cycle can be as short as three to four weeks.

Flea diseases transmission

Fleas are not simply a source of annoyance. Some people and animals suffer allergic reactions to flea saliva resulting in rashes. Fleas can also act as a vector for disease (viral, bacterial and parasites) to humans and animals. An animal can die from a serious infestation of fleas if it is not treated.

Don’t wait until you see fleas on your animal to start a treatment

Fleas are an all year problem. They love our central heating as much as the hot summer weather. Preventing an infestation is much easier and much more effective than trying to treat one that already exists. Ridding your home of an existing infestation can be timeless (months, regardless of the flea product you use), labour and expensive process.

Don’t assume that because your animal doesn’t go outdoors he is safe from fleas. Fleas can hitchhike on your clothing and come inside with you. They can come in with other pets that do go outdoors. They can also find their way inside through very small openings.

Kennel Cough is more formally known by vets as Infectious Tracheo-Bronchitis. It is actually several different viruses and bacteria that gang up together to cause respiratory disease (nose, throat and chest). The main culprit is a bacteria called Bordetella. Bordetella is very infectious and can spread from dog to dog rapidly. It can be picked up anywhere not just in kennels ie in a park, in the street, at a dog show, anytime, anywhere, wherever a dog meets another dog.

In situations like kennels (where the disease gets its name from) or dog shows it can spread like wildfire – which is why most kennels recommend vaccination against Bordetella before they will allow your dog to board.

Symptoms of Kennel Cough

The main symptom of Kennel Cough is a hacking cough – it often sounds like something is caught down the dog’s throat. A lot of people bring their dogs in thinking it has a chicken bone or something else stuck in his/her throat, when it is actually Kennel Cough. Other symptoms can include sneezing, a runny nose, fever, feeling poorly and off food. The disease is rarely fatal but can be hard to get rid of and a long course of anti-biotics and/or anti-inflammatories can be needed. It can take a couple of weeks for Kennel Cough to incubate in your dog, so sometimes symptoms do not show until a week or two after kennelling.

Vaccination

The vaccine itself is unusual. Instead of a needle under the skin, a small amount of vaccine is dribbled up the dog’s nose. The vaccine now lasts a year (it used to be only six months), and ideally needs to be given at least three weeks before going into kennels.

It is important to remember that the vaccine only protects against the Bordetella form of Kennel Cough. Occasionally another virus or bacteria can cause Kennel Cough symptoms, even though your dog is vaccinated.

From 6 April 2016 all dogs in England, Wales and Scotland must be microchipped by Law.

The Regulations will be enforced by local authorities, police constables, community support officers and any other person whom the Secretary of State may authorise to act as an enforcer of the regulations.

Losing your dog is very distressing and without reliable identification, it is very difficult to reunite a lost dog with its owner. Microchipping is a simple way of permanent identification.  The cost of microchipping is £14.99 or is included as part of the Healthy Pet Club package.

The procedure

A tiny microchip (about the size of a grain of rice) is injected by your vet under the loose skin of your dog’s neck, which will give your dog his own personal identification number. It’s quick and very safe and your dog is unlikely to feel anything.

Should your dog stray or get lost and get handed in to a veterinary surgery, animal welfare group, the police or local authority, they have special hand held scanners that can detect and “read” the information on the microchips. Once your dog’s unique number has been found and verified against the national database, you will be reunited without further delay.

Legal obligation

However, it is important to stress that every dog owner is also legally obliged to ensure that their dog is wearing a collar and identification disc in public areas, even if they have a microchip. The disc should have the owners surname and address on it.

If a stray dog is found not wearing a tag with this information, owners can be fined quite heavily! An identification disc on a collar makes it easy to see where a lost dog has come from but a collar can also be easily removed, particularly from a stolen dog.

Keeping your details up-to-date is also important

Please note that under this new Law you can also get fined if your details for your pet’s microchip are out-of-date. Accordingly if, for example, you have moved address, you must ensure you have registered your new address on the database for your pet’s microchip.

Males

There are several advantages to having your male dog castrated. Please consult with your vet to find out the best age this can be done from. The benefits can be behavioural as well as physiological.

Some castrated males can become more content and less interested in female dogs. They are less likely to get lost or injured while in the chase. They can be easier to train as they concentrate more on what the owner is saying rather than worrying about their hormones! Physiologically, castrated males will obviously not develop testicular cancer as both testicles are removed in the castration.

Prostate problems are very common in entire males as the hormones produced by the testicles stimulate the prostate. Prostatic enlargement can cause constipation or problems passing water. Enlarged prostates are more prone to infection and prostatitis is a very painful condition and can make the dog seriously ill. Sometimes abscesses can develop in the prostate following infection and again these can cause severe problems.

Females (bitches)

The biggest advantage of spaying a bitch is no unwanted pregnancies and neither do you need to keep your bitch shut away when she comes into season. Some bitches, following a season, develop a pseudo-pregnancy where they think they are pregnant. Spaying prevents this happening.

Bitches spayed before their first season reduce the risk of developing mammary cancer. The risks following each subsequent season increase as the majority of cancers are under hormonal control. A large percentage of mammary cancers are malignant so can be fatal if action is not taken immediately.

Entire females can also develop a condition called Pyometra when the womb fills with infection. This normally occurs after a season. The bitch will be lethargic, is often sick and will drink more than usual. As antibiotics will not treat this infection an emergency spay has to be performed. This is a higher risk than a normal spay as the bitch is already poorly.

With both male and females, you need to watch your pet’s weight post-neutering and your vet will be able to advise you on a suitable diet and exercise.

Seasonal Canine Illness (SCI) is a recently described condition which currently has no known cause. It affects dogs shortly after walking in woodland and can be fatal, though often isn’t if treated early. It’s most commonly seen between August and November, hence the name seasonal.

SCI has been seen in dogs of any age, gender or breed, but doesn’t seem to affect other animals such as cats. Dogs become unwell roughly 24-72 hours after walking in woodland, with symptoms primarily affecting the gastrointestinal tract. These can include signs such as:

Vomiting.

Diarrhoea.

Abdominal pain.

Lethargy.

Not eating.

Muscle tremors.

On examination some dogs will have a higher than normal body temperature.

Treatment

Treatment is focused around the symptoms, and usually includes intra-venous fluid therapy, antibiotics and anti-sickness drugs. The majority of cases recover within a week of treatment. A very small number of dogs may deteriorate and collapse, although this is uncommon. During 2010, 20% of suspected SCI cases reported to the Animal Health Trust were fatal; however in 2012 less than 2% of reported cases resulted in death. This suggests vets are becoming increasingly able to detect and treat SCI successfully.

What is the cause?

Currently, it’s not known what causes SCI. The Animal Health Trust are carrying out ongoing research, but at the moment there’s no test to diagnose SCI. Research to-date has ruled out man-made poisons, contaminated water sources, fungi and natural flora as causes. Ectoparasites (such as mites) have been suggested as a trigger, specifically harvest mites as they too are seasonal. Many dogs will pick up harvest mites while out walking and never become unwell; however preventative treatment for mites in the form of a fipronil spray is a simple and safe solution. Please discuss this with your vet if you wish to treat your dog.

Where has it been reported?

Seasonal canine illness has been reported around the country, and can occur after walking in any woodland. Historically increased density of cases have been reported in Nottinghamshire (Sherwood Forest and Clumber Park), Lincolnshire, Norfolk (Thetford Forest and Sandringham), Suffolk (Rendlesham forest), and the New Forest. If walking in these areas you may notice information boards in the woodland warning about SCI; we would suggest monitoring dogs carefully after trips to these locations. Animals with suspicious symptoms should receive veterinary care as soon as possible.

SCI remains an uncommon condition, and there are many other causes of vomiting, diarrhoea, and lethargy which are simple to treat. If you are for any reason concerned about your dog, please contact your nearest vet and let them know if you have been in an SCI risk area.

There is still no treatment for most viruses that affect dogs today. We believe that ‘prevention is better than cure’. We frequently see unvaccinated puppies with parvovirus, which can be very rapidly fatal, and Kennel Cough is another extremely common illness that we see in dogs of all ages. Both of these and many other diseases can be prevented or kept to a minimum just by a simple vaccination.

The Healthy Pet Club membership includes your dog’s routine vaccinations. We recommend yearly booster vaccinations to ensure that your dog’s immune system is always prepared in its constant fight against disease. Some of the diseases mentioned below are treatable but some can be fatal which is why it is wise to vaccinate against them to help protect your dog.

Vaccinations for dogs

Normally, it is advisable for puppies to be given an initial course of two vaccination injections, from eight weeks old. These should then be followed by a booster vaccination on an annual basis. A multivalent vaccine is used which means that with one injection we are actually vaccinating against a variety of diseases. The vaccination will help protect your dog against:

Parvo virus

A viral infection that causes painful and severe diarrhoea and vomiting leading to dehydration, with over 25% of cases proving fatal.

Mostly affects puppies although adult dogs can be infected.

Damages dog’s immune system.

It is highly contagious.

Distemper

A viral infection that has symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, respiratory and neurological disease.

Can be fatal.

Canine Hepatitis

Causes severe damage to the liver and kidneys.

Can be fatal.

This is now rare due to vaccinations, but still present.

Leptospirosis (the canine equivalent of Weil’s Disease)

Each year there are more and more cases of Leptospirosis in the UK, most recently being found in those areas affected by flooding and bad weather over the winter months.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection which can cause organ failure and require antibiotics, rehydration and organ damage control which can be expensive. To make it worse, Leptospirosis can be transmitted to humans as well – so if your pet catches it, so could you.

Symptoms of Leptospirosis include:

High fever.

Vomiting and Diarrhoea – with traces of blood.

Jaundice – a sign of liver failure.

Dark urine.

Dehydration.

Lethargy.

However, these symptoms are also noticeable with a lot of other illnesses so if your pet does show signs of any of these, please do not hesitate to contact your vet as soon as possible.

Contagious / Kennel Cough (Infectious bronchitis)

Harsh hacking cough.

Extremely contagious between dogs.

Adenovirus

Causes hepatitis.

Para-Influenza

A respiratory virus that is another component of Kennel Cough. Vaccination reduces the likelihood of your dog contracting this infection and reduces the severity of the illness if your dog does become infected.

A vaccination programme can be started any time.

It is never too late to start a vaccination programme even for an older dog and your vet will be able to advise you on this. Elderly dogs have a weaker immune system so it is especially important to keep their boosters up to date. In addition, most kennels will not take dogs for boarding unless they have an up to date vaccination record.

Accordingly, it is wise to ensure that your pets have their annual booster. If more than 12 months pass between boosters, your pet may have to start the primary vaccination course again, as its immunity to disease will have deteriorated.

Obesity in the human population is often a topic of discussion in the media. Unfortunately, the same trends are seen in our pets.

Obesity is more of a problem in dogs as cats often exert more self control although they can suffer from obesity due to extreme laziness. Obesity leads to many health problems in our pets.

When carrying extra weight, the heart and joints are put under more pressure. It can also lead to hormonal problems such as diabetes. Overweight animals can have trouble grooming and sores can develop where skin folds rub together. If you suspect your pet is overweight, advice on a change of diet can be obtained from your vet.

When running your hands over your pet’s ribcage you should be able to feel each individual rib without having to press too hard and you certainly shouldn’t be able to “pinch an inch”.

Your vet will have a variety of prescription diets that are ideal for weight loss. They are specially formulated by being low fat but high fibre so they have less calories but the fibre helps to fill your pet up.

At the surgery, your pet will be weighed and an estimate made of what your pet should weigh! An accurate measure can then be made for the amount of food to be fed. The pet can be weighed again in a month and the degree of weight loss assessed and then the amount fed changed accordingly. Once your pet has lost the desired amount of weight, it can be changed on to a diet to maintain that weight.

Close monitoring is advisable to ensure those pounds don’t sneak back on.

Most pet owners are really pleased when their pet successfully loses weight. Pets tend to be much brighter, have more energy and owners can often save money on things such as painkilling tablets that were needed for arthritis.

Just like “Weightwatchers” for humans, it is a good incentive to have a “weigh-in” at the vets as the nurses can regularly give advice on any alteration to food intake (and tell you off) if your pet’s weight has gone up!

Pets are easily at risk of attracting different worms such as roundworms, tapeworms and lungworms. They can pick them up in a number of ways – from other infected animals, from their mother if she is infected while pregnant, or from eating worm eggs in infected faeces, urine or grass.

Roundworms

These are very common in puppies and stray animals. It is important to note that they can infect humans and cause varying illnesses from mild abdominal pain to blindness and can even cause death in puppies and kittens.

Not worming your dog regularly can cause a build-up of worm eggs in the environment, especially in areas such as parks where many dogs are walked and this is a cause for concern because this is where many children play. It also highlights the importance of clearing up any “mess” your dog leaves when on a walk!

Tapeworms

Not as common as roundworms. The main way of catching them is from fleas. If your dog’s flea treatment is up-to-date your dog should not have any tapeworm living in their intestines. They can, however, be picked up by animals that hunt or if you feed your dog raw meat. In Wales, a particularly nasty tapeworm is common and this can cause large cysts to grow in humans so treatment for tapeworms is recommended if your take your dog on holiday to Wales. Similarly in Europe, where there are also tapeworms that can cause disease in humans, your dog must be treated within 24-48 hours prior to entry into the UK.

Lungworms

Were you aware of the potential threat to your dog’s health posed by a disease that is caught from eating slugs and snails? Some dogs might not eat slugs and snails on purpose, but they may do so by accident – for example when a slug or snail is sitting on a bone or a favourite toy.

Canine angiostrongylosis is a life-threatening disease of dogs caused by a very sophisticated worm. The worm is called Angiostrongylus Vasorum, often referred to as lungworm or French heartworm due to its discovery in France in 1866.

Vets are now reporting significantly more cases of dogs with the disease than in the past years. As yet it is unclear why there has been an increase, but the worm is known to favour warmer temperatures. Foxes can also be infected, and the increase in urban fox populations might be another reason why vets are seeing more cases in dogs, as infected foxes spread worm larvae in their poo.

Infestations of this lungworm often result in death if not diagnosed, or if left untreated. Early diagnosis by a vet, followed by appropriate treatment will, fortunately, usually lead to a full recovery.

Common symptoms

There are many symptoms to watch out for, although an infected dog may equally appear totally healthy. Persistent coughing, reluctance to exercise, depression, weight loss, fits, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, paralysis, behavioural changes and persistent bleeding from even insignificant cuts are all possible signs.

Dogs under the age of two appear to be more susceptible but dogs of all ages and breeds can be affected. The wide range of symptoms can easily be confused with other illnesses so contacting your veterinary practice is important in case any of the above signs have been noticed.

For this lungworm to infect a dog it has to pass through an intermediate host and then be eaten by the dog. In this instance, the intermediate hosts are slugs and snails or even frogs! Dogs do not normally eat slugs or snails willingly, although some might unwittingly do so by eating grass or anything else they choose to eat while outside. Outside water bowls or the practice of feeding dogs outside might increase the risk of them eating a slug or snail.

If you suspect your dog may have eaten a slug or a snail, or habitually does so, go and see your vet without delay. He or she will be able to test very quickly whether your dog is infected. Fortunately, there is treatment available for this condition which your vet will be able to prescribe.

Frequency and treatment

Worming your pet is important but the frequency of doing so varies depending on age and life style. Puppies should be wormed monthly until 12 weeks old because the majority will have roundworms. Animals that go outside should also be treated regularly.

There is a very good spot-on treatment available from your vet that not only eliminates fleas but also provides a monthly roundworm treatment. If your dig has fleas then it will need treatment for tapeworm every month and monthly flea control would be advisable. Again, if your dog hunts or eats raw meat, it should be treated for tapeworm every month. Bitches should be wormed during pregnancy to reduce contamination to the puppies.

If you have any queries regarding worming your pet then consult your vet and he will advise you of a suitable regime.